Chapter Text
Early October, New York.
It was close to midnight when Seokjin entered the Funny Valentine and ordered an Old Fashioned. He usually didn't drink those kinds of cocktails, but, considering that he was in New York, he decided to follow that impulse. He thought it would be good to try something new that night.
The Funny Valentine was a jazz bar that his best friend had mentioned more than once. It had existed for more than thirty years in a small place in West Village. It was named after the famous song, and was decorated in the purest Art Deco style.
The atmosphere inside matched the soft and calm vibe of the musical piece. The lights were low and the tables were almost all full. There was a band playing delicious music accompanied by a singer with an angelic voice.
Seokjin sat on a stool by the bar and tried to identify the song the band was playing, but he was unsuccessful. He knew very little about jazz, to be honest, but he liked the atmosphere there.
While the bartender was making his cocktail, he noticed that most of the people were couples. Some drank, others talked, and a few others danced to the slow melody provided by the talented musicians.
It had been a bit of a stressful day, but at least he had achieved his goal: qualifying for the next stage of the competition.
He had arrived in New York two days ago and the reason behind it was a baking competition that was being held at the Kim Hotel in the city. After receiving an invitation to participate, the same manager of the Kim Hotel in South Korea, encouraged him to travel, as he thought Seokjin was talented enough to win first place. Also, considering that Seokjin had been the pastry chef of the prestigious hotel for two years, it would surely leave a good impression. Everyone supported his decision to go, especially his best friend and future heir to the hotels, Kim Namjoon.
Namjoon organized everything to make Seokjin's trip as comfortable as possible. He booked him a large room at the Kim Hotel in West Village, gave him first-class tickets and sent him a ton of messages wishing him good luck in the competition. He also asked him to keep him informed of all the details regarding his travel. At the beginning, Namjoon was going to travel with him, but something regarding his work came up, so Seokjin resigned himself to travel alone.
It was his first time in New York and he felt a little lonely. He had been hanging out a bit with some of the contestants who came from other countries; he had even had dinner with a German and a Canadian chef that night, but it wasn't the same. That is, he hadn't had anyone to celebrate with when he got second place for his fantastic creation with phyllo dough.
That had been the first part of the competition. Each contestant had to present a creation based on the delicate phyllo dough. It wasn't difficult, but it had a lot of technique. Seokjin's recipe consisted of phyllo dough cannoli, filled with brie cheese and caramelized apples seasoned with cinnamon, and flambéed with rum, and to finish, a little pecan praline on top. Taking into account the preparations of the other chefs, his seemed quite basic, but it was enough to give him second place.
Seokjin had been nervous because, at thirty-two, he was the second youngest contestant among a dozen fantastic chefs who had much more experience than him. And yet, he moved onto the next level of the competition. He was happy about that, but he missed Namjoon a lot.
So, as if he were an old lover, after drinking a few sips of his cocktail, Seokjin decided to call Namjoon to tell him about his day. There was a thirteen hour difference between Seoul and New York, so he definitely wouldn't interrupt Namjoon's sleep.
"Guess who won second place in the first stage," was the first thing Seokjin said to him when his best friend answered the phone.
"I knew it! I told you!" Namjoon exclaimed and Seokjin had to move the device away from his ear. "Hyung, I'm so happy for you! That preparation was delicious!"
"From now on I'll trust your palate more," Seokjin said, happily. Namjoon was always the one to try his inventions first, but sometimes his palate was a little picky.
"Tell me what else happened. I want all the gossip in detail."
"Aren't you on working hours?"
"I'm in the office drinking coffee. I have to meet my father in an hour, so I have time."
"You drinking coffee and I'm drinking an old fashioned." Seokjin giggled and Namjoon reciprocated with his little hyena laugh on the other end of the line. "I came to the Funny Valentine, like you told me."
"It's great, isn't it? Have you seen the replicas of Sven Brasch's posters and Tamara de Lempicka's works?"
"I saw some, but I couldn't tell which was which. I wish you were here. What am I doing here without the love of my life?"
"Aish, hyung, don't make me sad. Better tell me about how your day was," Namjoon asked.
Seokjin took the time to tell him in detail the process of the first stage, complementing his story with some gossip and the impression he had gotten from some contestants. He told him that he believed he had already made an enemy. He was a forty-something Italian who won first place that day. He shook Seokjin's hand at the end, but he could feel the man didn't like him.
He was in the middle of that conversation when he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that someone sat down on the stool next to him. At first he didn't pay much attention to him, but then Namjoon said something that made him laugh, and when he threw his head back to let out a squeaky laugh, he realized that the person in the next stool was looking at him without a drop of shame.
He was a young man. His elbow was on the bar and his face rested delicately in the palm of his hand as he gave Seokjin his full attention. He was even smiling after hearing the windshield wiper laugh from him. Seokjin cleared his throat, settled into his seat, and took another sip of the cocktail to hide the fact he now knew he was being observed.
He continued talking to his best friend, trying to ignore the young man's gaze, but his attention was already broken and now it was impossible for him not to be aware of every movement next to him.
"Hyung, I have to go. I'll call you later, okay?" Namjoon began to say goodbye on the other end of the line and Seokjin wanted to ask him to please not abandon him a second time, but he knew that his best friend's father was a serious man and would not forgive him for being late for whatever they had. "Take care of yourself, don't go to sleep late. Don't walk in dangerous places. I love you. Bye."
Seokjin resigned himself and said goodbye to his friend. He drank some more of his drink while vaguely glancing at some notifications on his phone and then, when he gathered enough courage, he looked in the boy's direction.
He was actually very handsome. His hair was composed of dark waves, as dark as coffee, and a few strands fell over his eyebrows, giving him a relaxed look. His eyes were big and beautiful; adorned by long eyelashes, and his pretty pink lips formed a soft smile. The lighting wasn't the best for noticing details, but Seokjin could see that his skin was a gorgeous honey color, and he had a very visible mole on his cheek and another under his eye. He definitely had Asian roots. He was wearing a two-piece ocher tailored suit and a white shirt unbuttoned to his collarbones.
And, since the young man kept looking at him, Seokjin allowed himself to be just as shameless and watched him for another couple of seconds. He noticed that he was wearing a Cartier panthere earring that hung beautifully from his right ear. It matched his entire persona so well. There was, in fact, something vaguely feline about him. He looked like a work of art.
Seokjin had seen that kind of person before; that kind of person who seems too out of his reach. He looked as elegant; as luxurious; as neat as the jewelry he was wearing. And well, Seokjin couldn't say he considered himself an unattractive man, he was aware of his face and his body, but sometimes it was impossible for him not to be carried away by memories of that teenager who, according to his perspective, was not so pleasing to the eyes, so he felt a little intimidated by the stranger's beauty.
"I hope I didn't interrupt your call," was the first thing the stranger said to him. His voice was deep and soft and Seokjin decided that it matched his image perfectly. It was like velvet.
"Didn't your parents teach you it's rude to stare at people like that?" Seokjin answered. It was a joke, of course, and he made it clear when he smiled at him.
"Sorry." The boy smiled too, but then lowered his gaze to look at him through his eyelashes. In that very moment, a song with a mischievous and stimulating rhythm began to play, one of those that would probably be in a vintage movie. It talked about a girl wearing a yellow dress, mesmerizing a man with her smile.
"... dark eyes, as compelling as the bourbon..."
It was ridiculous how well that piece of music suited the stranger in that moment.
He had no idea what the intentions of the young man next to him were, but he was not going to deny to himself that he was one of the most beautiful and attractive people he had ever seen. He didn't know from where it could be, but he looked a bit familiar to Seokjin.
"Can I be very honest with you?" the boy asked him. Seokjin felt butterflies in his stomach, but he nodded because he was very curious. "I wanted to ask you if... could you pretend to know me so I can get rid of some unwanted companion?"
Seokjin raised his eyebrows and felt a small (tiny) pang of disappointment in his chest. Maybe he was waiting for the boy to say he was interested in him in other way, but hey, he couldn't ask too much from life. After all, he was convinced that that kind of person was out of his league. Besides, if the boy was in trouble and he could intervene, he would do his good deed for the night.
"Is someone bothering you?" he asked more seriously.
The young man nodded. He looked around and then leaned closer to him. His panther earring swayed and shimmered under the lights.
"That man who is walking in our direction..." he said in a low voice, "look, I exchanged glances with that man a while ago and I, idiot, smiled at him. So he approached me to talk and offered to buy me a drink, but I said no because I know his type, I know those glances, I know what he wants from me. But he sat at my table anyway and made me feel uncomfortable. So I told him I was waiting for someone... Can you pretend to be that someone so he will leave me alone, please? I came to sit here because I wanted to get your attention, I hope I haven't made you too uncomfortable. Sorry."
Suddenly the young man looked distressed. All the spark and happiness were erased from those beautiful features. His eyes seemed to beg him for something as the seconds passed and Seokjin tried to process his words.
However, he was not able to give him an answer, because a tall man dressed in a black tailored suit positioned himself next to the boy and placed one of his hands on his shoulder, completely ignoring Seokjin.
"You abandoned me," the man said to the boy. He was at least twice his age and looked like those powerful men who fix everything with money because they have a lot in their bank accounts. One of those men who look for boys to hang out and hook up with, and then return home to their wives dressed in Prada.
Yes, Seokjin knew them too.
"I couldn't abandon you if I wasn't with you in the first place," the younger one said with a bored tone.
"How not? You were hanging out with me," the man debated and squeezed the boy's shoulder surreptitiously, but Seokjin noticed.
"Excuse me, sir, but he's with me," Seokjin intervened.
The man looked at him from head to toe, as if he were a bottle of the cheapest and poorest quality wine. Seokjin felt offended.
"That's not true," the man said with disdain.
"He's literally sitting next to me and talking to me," Seokjin pointed out as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He didn't mean to be rude, but the other man's look of contempt was bothering him a little.
"And who are you? Who do you think you are?" the man asked a moment later. Seokjin couldn't tell that he was drunk, but it was evident he had had a few drinks.
Seokjin looked at the boy and he returned a look that screamed for help.
"I'm his boyfriend and you're being rude," Seokjin said to the man, calmly.
At those words, the man stopped touching the boy and his surprised look passed over both faces like he wanted an explanation. Then his expression turned angry as his eyes scanned Seokjin again.
"Well then, tell your boyfriend not to go through life seducing people." And to say the following, he looked at the boy. He scanned him from head to toe. "It doesn't matter anyway, you're not even that attractive, I've seen more beautiful people today. You're quite ordinary."
And after saying those words, the man walked towards the exit. Seokjin was left with a couple of sentences stuck in his throat, he even thought about shouting them, but he preferred to keep the peace. He turned to the boy who had lowered his gaze and looked embarrassed. Before thinking better about his words, Seokjin hurriedly said, "please don't believe him. You're very attractive and you're not ordinary at all."
And he would have regretted his impulsiveness, but the young man offered him a wide smile. It was an expression that lit up his face in such a beautiful way that Seokjin forgot about everything else for a second, for the only thing his brain could process was that face.
Seokjin had seen many beautiful people in his life, but that nameless boy was an image that belonged to another reality, because there was no way a person from this plane could carry that amount of beauty. Suddenly Seokjin felt entranced, floating in a world that revolved around that smile.
"Thank you," the boy said. He was silent for a moment, lowered his gaze, and then looked back at Seokjin through his eyelashes, again. "You're very attractive, too."
Seokjin smiled at him, still intoxicated with his image and the magnetic energy he emanated like a perfume.
"Uhm, thanks for helping me. Really, thank you so much," the boy added. He offered him a bow, took the small leather bag he had left on the bar and stood up. "Now I'll leave you alone. Have a great night."
Seokjin didn't know what kind of bravery possessed him, but before the boy could walk away, he reached out to grab the sleeve of his perfect jacket with his thumb and index finger. It was a fairly subtle touch, but Seokjin felt like he climbed a couple of steps too quickly. His heart went crazy, but he dared to say the following because he thought he had nothing to lose. Maybe he would lose a little bit of dignity if the boy rejected him, but he had faced that before. That wasn't so terrible.
"What if I don't want you to leave me alone?" he asked.
The boy looked at him with an expression that carried a certain percentage of satisfaction. The big smile showed up again.
"Perfect, because I didn't want to leave you alone. I was gonna look at you from afar," he said and sat on the same stool he had occupied for the last few minutes. His body turned in Seokjin's direction to give him his full attention.
Seokjin felt an army of butterflies in his stomach when he also turned towards his new companion and their knees touched, but neither of them cared much.
"Are you always so bold?" Seokjin asked.
The boy shrugged. "I guess so. You think that's a bad thing?"
"No. It just can be a little… hard to process for people who aren't used to it," Seokjin replied.
"Are you one of those people?" the youngest asked, very interested.
"I don't think so," he said with complete sincerity. While Seokjin knew that sometimes he couldn't just spout truths out loud, he was the kind of person who preferred to hear the truths without disguises.
"That's good." The boy smiled at him. "What's your name?"
"Kim Seokjin. And you?"
"Kim Seokjin. Seok-Jin. Seok... Jin," the young man pronounced carefully and it was a beautiful melody to Seokjin's ears. "It's a pretty name. It could end in a smile, you know, because of the pronunciation of the I and the N. Seokjin."
My goodness, what a charming creature, Seokjin thought.
"Won't you tell me your name?" he asked him.
"It's not as pretty as Seokjin, Seokjin," the boy replied as he began to play with one of the rings on his fingers. "My name is Kim Taehyung."
Taehyung. Tae-Hyung. Seokjin said his name in his head several times and came to the conclusion that if it was pronounced exaggeratedly at the end, it might lead to a kiss, but he saved the comment (for later, perhaps).
"Taehyung. It's a pretty name. As pretty as your face," he commented. For a second he regretted speaking without thinking again, but it didn't last long, because Taehyung laughed softly and looked at him directly.
"That's a cliché, but I'll take just because I can," he said and Seokjin thought that subtly spoiled attitude suited him so well. He seemed like that kind of person who was born to receive praise. And he wanted to give it to him.
"By the way, can I ask your age?"
Taehyung looked quite young and, as attractive as he was, Seokjin wasn't sure he felt comfortable flirting with a twenty year old boy. It's not that he was horrified by age difference, but at thirty-two, he preferred not to wander into that territory.
"How old are you?"
"No. I asked first."
Taehyung smiled at him with a hint of sass. "I'm twenty-five."
"You're not lying, are you?"
"I promise."
"Oh..." That was a relief. Seven years wasn't too much. It was good. Seokjin could live with that.
"And you?"
"Thirty-two."
"Oh, no!" Taehyung covered his mouth with both hands. "And I've been so bold with you. I'm sorry, Seokjin-ssi, please don't take this as disrespect. I haven't lived in Korea for a while and—"
"It's okay," Seokjin interrupted gently and made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "Anyway, we're in New York, let's pretend we're like everyone else here and drop the formalities."
"But you don't look like anyone else here," Taehyung commented. His little smile became slightly flirtatious and the butterflies in Seokjin's stomach went crazy.
"What do you mean?"
The young man seemed delighted to reveal his thoughts. "You're one of the most attractive men I have ever seen. And believe me, I've seen a lot of attractive men because I work in the fashion industry."
"Oh..." Seokjin felt himself blushing, but he didn't give it much importance. He had just received a compliment from that beautiful creature and he would remember that moment forever. "Can I keep that place in your memory if I buy you a drink? You don't have to say yes though, considering the bad experience you had a while ago..."
"Seokjin," Taehyung had the audacity to place one of his hands on Seokjin's forearm, "you don't have to worry about that. I'm fine. Besides, I do want to accept that drink."
Seokjin smiled broadly at him. "Well, then, order whatever you want, it's on me."
It was not like Seokjin had a lot of money, in fact, he didn't. And if he took refuge in the part of him that judged by appearances and, taking into account that Cartier earring, he could swear Taehyung had a lot, a lot more money than him, but he wanted the personal satisfaction that he could buy a drink for someone as beautiful as the young man next to him.
Taehyung ordered a glass of red wine from Le Chiuse and Seokjin ordered a small board of prosciutto and nuts to share with him. He still had half of his Old Fashioned left and he knew he wouldn't drink any more alcohol because he wanted to remember everything about that moment.
He wanted to remember in detail the things Taehyung told him. Things like he was a model, for example. Taehyung told him he had been working in the fashion industry since he was eighteen, and his career had escalated quite quickly. Currently he was a highly sought-after model by the biggest and most famous designers. He had featured in a lot of fashion shows, done dozens of advertisements and campaigns for different brands and, at that moment in his life, he was working with Cartier. And, precisely, Cartier and Elle magazine were the reason why he was in New York. They had been photographing and recording material for the upcoming campaign.
That clarified Seokjin's doubts about why he looked familiar. He was famous. He may not have been a celebrity as such, but Seokjin had surely seen him in more than one magazine, campaing or TV commercial.
Seokjin, for his part, told him the reason for his stay in the city and Taehyung seemed very interested in the whole topic of patisserie. He asked him many curious questions and Seokjin showed him some photographs of his recipes. Taehyung didn't stop giving him compliment after compliment and expressions of amazement every time Seokjin explained something about the culinary world. It was evident Taehyung really wanted to listen to him, just as Seokjin did with him. He liked that. He liked being the center of his attention.
After a good while of conversation and gaining confidence, Taehyung dared to ask him if he would like to dance with him. He used the excuse that the song playing was one of his favorites, but Seokjin didn't really need any reason to say yes. He stood up and offered his hand to Taehyung—who accepted it immediately—and then led him to the small dance floor located in front of where the band had played.
The musicians had finished their live performance a while ago, but the music continued through the speakers and the people around seemed far from wanting to end their night.
They made their way among the couples and only then did Seokjin realize he had no idea how to dance jazz. Were there any rules? Looking around, no one seemed to follow a structure or any particular movement, so Seokjin decided that he would let himself be guided by Taehyung. And well, if he made a fool of himself, at least he had the wonderful opportunity to make him laugh.
When Seokjin moved closer to Taehyung to speak close to his ear, he could smell his sweet and warm scented perfume. He also noticed Taehyung was wearing black Chelsea boots that had a small heel of at least five centimeters. Seokjin decided that was very sexy.
"I have never danced jazz. You'll have to guide me," he said.
"Well, actually this isn't jazz, it's bossa nova, but one of its main bases is jazz," Taehyung explained with a proud smile because of his knowledge. Then he began to move slowly to the rhythm of the music. He moved his shoulders and his arms first and then followed with his hips, making calm and graceful movements, as if he wanted to give Seokjin a little class. "Just let yourself go and feel the music. Like all types of art, if you let it invade you, it will become part of you."
Seokjin decided to keep those words in his memory as something important. He didn't know what for, but he had a feeling that they would serve him well in the future. Then he gave Taehyung a smile and followed his instructions and example. He paid attention to the soft music; to the instruments that seemed to recite a poem along with the lyrics. It was the kind of song that would lift anyone's spirits.
One leg to the right, moving his hip slowly and imitating Taehyung, then the other leg to the left with short steps, setting a catchy rhythm...
Taehyung took him by the hand and brought him closer to his body to place his other hand on Seokjin's back. His abdomen was very close to Taehyung's, but they didn't touch. Thus they began to move at the same time, as if they were a shadow of each other that was projected on the wall. The rhythm had a discreet sensuality, something very intimate and elegant, and Seokjin thought it matched Taehyung's energy perfectly. Even the lyrics seemed made for him.
"...tall and tanned and young and lovely..." the soft female voice sang.
Seokjin was surprised at how easy it was to get consumed by the melody and the moment. Suddenly, everything else disappeared and it was just the two of them dancing. That prompted him to move far enough away from Taehyung and raise his arm to invite him to spin around. Taehyung did it, once, twice, three times. He spun with such spectacular grace that Seokjin felt mesmerized. The panther earring swung, shining with its gold and precious stones under the warm lights, and Seokjin thought it was one of the prettiest things he had ever seen.
If elegance were a person, it would surely be Taehyung. He was that type of individual that should be looked at in slow motion and with eyes soaked in fascination, because even the slightest bit of him is a spectacle of which you don't want to miss a single second of.
The way he smiled; the way he approached Seokjin again to dance closer; the way he was the one who invited him to spin again and again... Seokjin felt, for an instant, that he had fallen in love with him and there was no turning back. Even if he never saw him again, he knew he would remember him for the rest of his life.
God.
Could he live the rest of his life peacefully after having met such a human being? If he didn't see him again, at least he wanted to leave him with a minimum memory; something that would make him remember that one night, at a bar in New York, he met a man named Seokjin.
So, when that song ended and the next one, which was much slower, began to play, Seokjin placed his hand on Taehyung's back and began to move along with the melody. The boy smiled at him, delighted by his decision to keep dancing.
And they danced and looked at each other and smiled with a lot of secrecy and complicity. Maybe that was the cause of Taehyung getting much closer to speak in Seokjin's ear.
"I know I already said it, but I need to say it again, in case we don't see each other again: you're extraordinarily handsome, you know that?"
It was impossible for Seokjin not to laugh; warm giggle that left a smile as a result.
Without losing that expression, Seokjin approached his ear to speak to him as well, because if he didn't do it at that moment, he knew he would lose his courage.
"I also want to say something, in case we never see each other again: Do you know that your name could end in a kiss? You know, because of the pronunciation of the U and the N and the G," he finally let him know his thoughts. That may have sounded bold, but Seokjin didn't care.
Taehyung laughed softly and slightly leaned his head back before looking at Seokjin again with a flirtatiousness that almost brought him to his knees.
"Don't tell me those things because you're gonna plant ideas in my mind," Taehyung said.
"What kind of ideas?" Seokjin raised an eyebrow, amused.
Taehyung stopped dancing, looked into his eyes and bit his lower lip almost innocently. It seemed very genuine, but Seokjin doubted that he didn't know what he was doing.
"Wanna come with me?" he invited him.
Seokjin's imagination worked so fast, it didn't take him long to guess what he meant, and damn, Seokjin was dying to kiss him right now, so he nodded.
Taehyung took him by the hand to guide him away from the dance floor. He walked calmly, a few steps ahead, with his arm stretched out behind him to carry Seokjin to one of the bar's bathrooms. There were a couple of people in the hallway, but, after making sure it wasn't occupied, he had no problem inviting Seokjin into the bathroom.
Taehyung closed the door and then leaned against it while hiding his hands behind his back. He subtly bit his lower lip again and watched Seokjin with smiling and sparkling eyes. His face showed something that resembled when someone is about to do some mischief.
Seokjin returned the same kind of amused look and smirked.
"I've never done anything like this," Taehyung commented.
"Bringing a stranger into a jazz bar's bathroom?" Seokjin asked. He walked over the counter next to the sink and after deciding it was clean, he leaned there.
"But you're not a stranger. I know your name and I know where you're staying and why you're in town," Taehyung debated and grinned in a way that sent tickles to Seokjin's stomach.
The light in the bathroom was not exaggerated, it was rather soft and greatly benefited the model's elegant features.
"Well, we're not strangers, then," Seokjin conceded.
After those words they remained silent, establishing a visual bridge that began in Seokjin's big, bright eyes and ended in Taehyung's beautiful and exotic eyes. The music from the main room sounded like the perfect soundtrack for that moment. In the distance it could be heard the voice of a woman and a man singing about a person who was sad, but they told her to be happy because she had a rich father and a beautiful mother. Seokjin didn't know it, but he decided he liked the song. It was a slightly provocative and catchy melody.
He was about to ask Taehyung if he knew the name when the model, very stealthily, locked the door and moved away from it to approach him. He leaned in the counter next to him, so close that their arms touched. He looked at Seokjin, but remained silent.
And, dear God, Taehyung's beauty took Seokjin's breath away. With his long eyelashes and that beautiful nose and his slightly messy hair and that panther earring, he looked like a hallucination; like something too good to be true. Seokjin believed that, at any moment, he would wake up in his hotel room and Taehyung would be nothing more than a figment of his imagination, created because of the loneliness he felt on that trip.
"I like that song," Taehyung commented suddenly.
"What's its name?" Seokjin asked him. "I like it too."
"Summertime. This version is by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong," Taehyung answered and then they fell silent again.
They looked at each other, smiled, and suppressed a giggle that definitely had a reason, but Seokjin couldn't have described. He just knew that the more he looked at him, the more he wanted to kiss him, but he didn't dare take the first step. He figured Taehyung had taken him to the bathroom with a clear intention, so he would let him act at his pace.
But, maybe he could help him.
"Why did you bring me here?" Seokjin dared to ask.
However, all of Seokjin's illusions were destroyed when Taehyung's phone started ringing.
The boy took the phone out of his bag to reject the call. He put it away and turned to Seokjin to stare at his lips shamelessly. Then he looked at his eyes again with intensity.
"I want—" Taehyung started to say, but his phone interrupted him again. Then he made a sound of annoyance that resembled the growl of a young feline. Seokjin thought it was charming. "Sorry, I have to answer or I may not have a career in the industry tomorrow."
"Don't worry, it's okay," Seokjin replied.
At first he did feel a little annoyed, but the moment Taehyung started speaking in fluent French, Seokjin's jaw dropped. If he thought his voice was already exquisite, that French made him sound like a complete handsome devil, even when he was arguing with someone. If the scene were a cartoon, Seokjin thought it would be one of those moments when his eyes turn into two hearts and saliva drops from the corner of his mouth.
When Taehyung ended the call, he looked upset, but he didn't say a word about it. He put the phone in his pocket and approached Seokjin. Without wasting time in explanations, he cupped the man's face with both hands and kissed him. His lips caressed Seokjin's with desire for something more, but he didn't go any further. In fact, his movements caught him so off guard that Seokjin couldn't even respond as he would have wanted.
Taehyung separated from him to ask him a wordless question and Seokjin understood it right away. So he didn't waste the time or the opportunity. He held his waist and the back of his neck to bring him closer to his body, and then Taehyung kissed him again. This time there was nothing simple about that kiss, Taehyung went to meet him with an open mouth and a lot of enthusiasm. He moved slowly, but before Seokjin knew, he allowed him total access to his mouth and their tongues were meeting each other again and again.
Taehyung kissed him as if he wanted to devour his mouth. He also touched his shoulders and his chest, his waist under his jacket and Seokjin responded with the same hunger. Almost unconsciously, he spread his legs to give Taehyung a space closer to his body because he wanted him totally pressed against him. Taehyung wrapped his arms around his waist, while Seokjin held him by the back of his neck, clinging to him as if his life depended on it.
Taehyung tasted sweet and warm and like one of the most elegant and sensual experiences he'd ever had, even his passionate, open-mouthed kisses felt like a complete luxury for Seokjin.
Even though they were almost the same height, there was something about Taehyung that made him look delicate and out of his reach. As if he were a wealthy prince; one of those that everyone wants to please in every way. And Seokjin was just a simple man, surrendered at his feet. He was willing to give him whatever he wanted. Whether he wanted to eat his mouth and touch him or if he wanted him on his knees or against the wall or between his legs, either way, at that moment, he existed only to please him.
But Taehyung's phone rang again, breaking the magic. The model didn't answer the call, but stopped kissing Seokjin. He was breathing heavily and his cheeks were flushed. He looked gorgeous.
"I have to go," he said softly and arranged some strands of hair on Seokjin's forehead.
"So soon?" Seokjin caressed his waist gently and the boy rested both hands on his shoulders.
"They're waiting for me..." Taehyung nodded. "The blowjob I wanted to offer you will have to be for another occasion."
Seokjin almost choked on his own saliva. That was the point of coming to the bathroom? That meant that Taehyung not only wanted to kiss him, but he desired him in other ways as well. Fuck. His pants felt the consequences of that statement, but he didn't give it much importance. Either way, he was flattered.
"My God, you're so honest," Seokjin commented and let out a shrill little laugh that infected Taehyung.
A moment later, Taehyung allowed him to regain his personal space and tidied up his impeccable tailored jacket.
"I'll walk you outside," Seokjin said. He imitated the young model's actions and arranged his jacket. It was also a piece of tailoring, but gray in color and much cheaper.
Seokjin followed Taehyung towards the exit. It was after two in the morning and that part of the city looked a little more deserted than when he had arrived, but there were still a few people outside.
Taehyung turned to Seokjin to place a hand on the back of his neck and kissed him again. A slow kiss and much sweeter than the previous ones. It was almost cute and Seokjin gladly reciprocated. At that point in life, he already felt like he was floating every time Taehyung got close to him.
"Taehyung!" A woman's exclamation forced them to separate and look for where the voice was coming from.
There was a black Mercedes Benz waiting on the street, right in front of the bar entrance. A blonde woman rolled down the back seat window to yell at Taehyung. She definitely wasn't Asian and she looked annoyed.
"This is Sylvie, she's my manager," Taehyung told him in a soft voice. He was still very close to his body and Seokjin still had his hands on his waist.
"You have a curfew?" Seokjin joked.
"Kind of. She takes the job of taking care of me very seriously."
"Oh..." Seokjin looked in the woman's direction again and she returned a very serious look. "I think Sylvie already hates me."
Taehyung laughed softly. "She doesn't hate you. She's mad at me. I'm disobedient and sometimes I get on her nerves."
Seokjin smiled at him. With how little he had gotten to know Taehyung that night, that kind of statement didn't surprise him at all, and furthered the image of the spoiled prince.
"Thank you for everything, Seokjin. Meeting you has been one of the best experiences I've had in a long time," Taehyung said sweetly. Seokjin couldn't say anything because the younger man kissed him again. One kiss, two kisses, three sweet kisses that made it very difficult to get away from him.
"Taehyung!" the woman yelled at him again.
Seokjin could imagine that, as a famous person, kissing someone in public could have consequences.
"You're the most fascinating person I have ever met. Seriously, where did you come from? It was so nice meeting you." Seokjin smiled broadly and prepared himself to let him go.
Taehyung gave him one of those wide smiles that lit up his face and then turned around to go towards the car, but halfway, he made a run back to Seokjin, just to give him another kiss.
"Taehyung!" Sylvie exclaimed again, and it was impossible for Seokjin not to let out another giggle.
"Bye." Taehyung gave him one last kiss and this time he did get into the car.
Seokjin blew him a flying kiss before the vehicle disappeared from sight and he swore he heard him laugh.
He looked at the hour on his phone and decided it was a good time to go back to the hotel. It was not far away and he could walk because he remembered the way.
The lights around him looked beautiful and Seokjin thought that, until that very minute, the city hadn't seemed so beautiful to him. Definitely, the time spent with Taehyung had been one of those moments that would mark a before and after in his life. Even if he never saw him again—because he hadn't asked for his phone number and Taehyung hadn't either—he knew he would think about the model, perhaps, for the rest of his life.
Taehyung was so interesting and beautiful and gave off a fascinating, warm energy. How come he resigned himself to letting him go just like that?
As he walked, he began to think of ways to see him again. He thought about going to his hotel. Taehyung had mentioned he was staying at the Ritz, but he couldn't go sit in the lobby all day waiting for him to show up, it wasn't convenient for either of them. Maybe he could follow him on Instagram and, if he was lucky, Taehyung would follow him back.
Yes, that was the smartest decision.
When he got comfortable between the sheets and the duvet in his hotel room, he searched for Kim Taehyung's name on Instagram. He had no problem finding out which one was his real account because he had the blue ticket next to his name and no less than fifteen million followers.
Wow, okay, Seokjin thought. If he was really, really lucky, Taehyung may notice that notification among all the ones he probably had every day.
He spent a while looking at his photographs. They were so varied; in one picture there was Taehyung's perfect face in a Céline campaign and another wearing Cartier, and then another picture showed a street rat or a puppy in very poor quality. It was evident that the boy didn't follow a very defined "aesthetic" and his social media was not only for work. Taehyung seemed like a very genuine person and, as if Seokjin wasn't already very enthralled, after spending many minutes looking at his posts, he found out he played the saxophone, piano, and liked to sing. And, for the love of all the angels in heaven, his voice was heavenly.
Seokjin knew it was enough when he accidentally liked a photo from two years ago.
Excellent, he thought. Now Taehyung would know that he had been looking at his Instagram down to the oldest posts.
He put the phone aside and tried to sleep, but hoped for Taehyung to visit his dreams too.
♡
The next day Seokjin didn't have any news about Taehyung and that disappointed him a little. It's not like it was logical to expect anything, since they had no way of communicating, but Seokjin allowed himself to have a tiny bit of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Taehyung would look for him.
However, it didn't happen. There was no sign of his pretty and spoiled prince that day.
When he talked to Namjoon, he decided to tell him about the situation and Namjoon suggested not to lose hope so soon, that perhaps fate could interfere in his favor. Seokjin would only be in New York for two weeks, but his friend's words encouraged him to leave that minimal hope burning.
Although he didn't want to think about it too much, he didn't want it to be the only thing on his mind for the next few weeks. So he decided to focus on the next stage of the competition that would be held the next day.